Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-16
SENATOR nrcK,s ORCHARDS.


Senator L. w Buck came to Vacaville
thirteen years ago, with very small capi-
tai, Il large family, and any quantity of
energy and ability. He bought, mostly on
time, Il farm of l66 acres, six miles north
of Vacaville in Naca valley The place
had small bearing orchard and few
vines. By untiring industry and atten-
tien to gathering packing, and marketing
fruit, Mr.. Buck met the payments on his
place, put out more fruit and vines, until
now he has l20 acres of orchard and vine
yard on his home place. He has built
large house on Il slightly place, overlooking
the valley, has other fine buildings, in all
u beautiful home. This home place for
the past four or five years has netted an
average of $4,000 per year.
In company with his son, F. II. Buck,
he owns 240 acres OF orchard and vineyard,
four miles from Vacaville. On this place
there are $50 acres of fruit trees and vines
divided as follows Sixty-fve acres in
vines, 100 acres in peach trees, five years
old, acres nectarines, 80 acres of apricots,
and there are several acres in figs, almonds
and other fruits.
In the fall of 1881 Mr.. Buck and his
son bought 1877 acres Of land at 500 per
acre, and in the spring of 1882 they put it
all out to trees and vines. At three years
of age the vines netted $50 per acre;
peaches, S15 per acre; nectarines, SO
per acre. At four years the peaches
netted $50 per acre, the vines 800,
the nectarines $3.50 and the apricots 5000
per acre. The present year, the fifth
year since the planting OF the trees and
vines on this lS7 acres, the yield of fruit
and grapes is much greater than in any
year before. In 1886 F. II. Buck bought
55 acres OF orchard and vineyard adjoin-
ing this 1S7 acre tract, and paid $500 per
acre for it. At this writing, in the middle
of the season of 1887, it looks as though
the crop of the 55 acre purchase would
have enough fruit to pay for it.
In all Mr.. Buck and his son have 372
acres of bearing orchards and vineyards,
paying ten per cent. each year on one
thousand dollars per acre, and worth more
than that amount This would seem to be
good thirteen years work, but Mr.. Buck
has found time to do much more He has
assisted his other children to homes ably
served the State as Senator in the Legis-
lature, and been most active in promoting
the fruit-growing interests of the Pacific
coast.
W. W. SMITHS PREMISES.
w. W. Smith, a soldier in the Union
army, came to California in 1865 and set
tied in Napa valley, and raised fruit there
for eight years. In 1873 he bought his
present place of 260 acres, two miles from
Vacayille, in Naca valley. The purchase
price was $50 per acre, and he mortGaged
his Napa place and raised $500 to make
the first payment. In the spring of 1874
he set out SO acres in cherries of the ear
liest and best varieties Between the rows
of cherry trees he planted vegetables, and
raised and sold early vegetables in the San
|. Francisco market. As he had the means
he gradually planted out more trees and
vines, till now he has 200 acres of orchard
and vineyard. His 36 acres of cherry Or
chard is now one Of the most beautiful
sights in the world. In 1885 these cherry
trees produced 10000 ten-pound boxes of
cherries, that netted so cents per box, or
81 800. This sum was clear of all expense
of picking, packages, packing, freight and
commissions. He has now SO acres cher
ries, 75 acres peaches, 50 acres apricots, %
acres table grapes, and Is acres pears The
balance of the POO acres is in plums,
prunes, almonds and nectarines. \ hun
dred and twenty-five acres are in full bear
lug, and for three years each they have
netted S125 per acre, or ten per cent. on
81 $50 per acre Mr. Smith put into this
Napa farm, 81 800 All the balance has
come from the soil and his labor He has
4 $4,000 house, 4 $1,000 barn, fine fruit
pacling-house, twelve head of work horses,
and wagons, implements, etc, without
number. His place is now worth more
| than 100000, and next season, when all
his trees and vines come into bearing, il
will pay an interest on 100000, and this
Is the result of fourteen years fruit-grow-
ing in the Vaca district.
THE HISTORY OF THE BAssFoRDs
Is fully as remarkable as those of Senator
Buck and Mr.. Smith. They came to La
gunita valley in the '70s with small means
and now they have farms that aggregate
several hundred acres OF bearing fruit
trees and vines. T. NJ Bassford, Jr., who
|. was the pioneer of the family in coming
10 the Vaca district, has about hundred
acres of fruit which nets him nearly SlO.-
900 each year.
Henry Bassford, a brother of J. NJ. Bass
ford, Jr., six years ago bought ten acres of
bearing cherry trees. The purchase was
made entirely on credit. lie paid $3.50
crops put him out of debt Now he owns
10 acres of orchard and vineyard which are
worth from $4,000 to $4,000.
THE BRINCKs BROS.
Came from San Francisco twelve wears ago
with 81, 200 capital Now they own 250
acres of bearing fruit and vines, with fine
Improvements, and have an annual income
of from $4,000 to $4,000.
PLACES OF INTEREST TO VISITORS.
There are many beautiful places in these
garden valleys which the homeseeker and
capitalist should visit In Lagunita val
ley, Mrs +. p. Buckingham has a farm of
400 acres, 200 of which are in fruit trees
and vines Mrs. Buckingham came to La
gunita in 1884 and planted out these fruit
trees and vines The land was then a
stubble field. Now it is as beautiful a
sight as can be found anywhere. The trees
are now four years old and are giving
good crop of fruit. In two years from now
the crop will net ten per cent. on 81 900
per acre.
Mr.. Thurber, north of Nacaville some
eight or nine miles, has 125 acres in orch
ard and vineyard. Mrs. Blake has $50
acres of orchard and vineyard W. J.
Pleasan;s has 100 acres, all in fruit trees
and vines. The Messrs. Thissel have $50
acres of orchards and vineyards.
FRUIT ASD vEGETABLE-GRoWER
The following is list of some of the
fruit growers and shippers in the upper
Putah basin:
Acres of Acres Of
Fruit. Vegetables.
Is. X Sacket.............-.......... 10 30
b. Z. Sacket q Co............-. 60 s.
Sacket d Allison ................. 100 100